Antimicrobials Quiz

Agents that target and kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. They include naturally produced antibiotics and synthetic compounds.

A specific type of antibacterial produced naturally by microorganisms. These agents kill or inhibit bacterial growth.

Antibiotics that eliminate bacteria by directly destroying them.

Antibiotics that prevent bacteria from multiplying, but don't destroy them directly.

These drugs target a wide range of bacteria, effectively combating various types.

These drugs are more specific, targeting only certain bacteria or strains.

A class of antibiotics that contain a specific chemical structure called a beta-lactam ring.

Bacteria can develop resistance to beta-lactams by producing enzymes that break down the beta-lactam ring, rendering the antibiotics ineffective.

A class of antibiotics known for their use in urinary tract infections and hospital-acquired infections, particularly when older antibiotics fail.

A unique class of antibiotics discovered in 1987 that target bacterial cell membranes.

The most commonly used lipopeptide antibiotic. It disrupts bacterial cell membrane function, making it effective against Gram-positive bacteria.

The phenomenon where bacteria evolve to evade the effects of antibiotics, making the drugs less effective.

A type of antibiotic resistance where bacteria produce enzymes that destroy the beta-lactam ring in certain antibiotics.

A group of antibiotics containing a beta-lactam ring, like penicillin and its derivatives.

The period of time it takes for a new antibiotic to be developed and released.

A major concern in healthcare, as it can lead to infections that are difficult to treat.

Penicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it targets a wide range of bacteria. Amoxicillin is the most common type of penicillin.

Sulfonamides, like Prontosil, were the first commercially available antibiotics. However, their use has declined due to bacterial resistance and potential side effects like liver damage.

Sulfonamides interfere with the production of folic acid, an essential nutrient for bacterial growth. They achieve this by blocking the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase.

Trimethoprim is an antibiotic that inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is also involved in folic acid synthesis. This blocks the production of a vital molecule for bacterial growth.

The combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is effective against a broad range of bacteria, including E. coli, streptococci, and staphylococci. However, it does not work against Pseudomonas or Mycobacterium species.

Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that interfere with protein synthesis in bacteria. They inhibit the attachment of tRNA to the ribosome, disrupting the process of building proteins.

Chloramphenicol is another broad-spectrum antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis in bacteria. It was once a first-line drug, but its use has decreased due to the rise of bacterial resistance.

Antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections. However, overuse and misuse can lead to the development of bacterial resistance. This makes infections harder to treat and can result in serious health consequences.

The ability of a bacteria species to naturally withstand the effects of a particular antibiotic.

The process of a bacterium acquiring genetic changes that make it resistant to antibiotics.

Changes in the bacterial DNA that can lead to antibiotic resistance.

The transfer of genetic material containing resistance genes between bacteria, allowing them to share antibiotic resistance traits.

A strategy bacteria use to evade a drug by preventing it from reaching its target inside the cell. This can involve changes in the bacterial cell membrane, like altering the porins that regulate what enters and exits the cell. Or, bacteria may produce efflux pumps that actively push the drug out of the cell.

Enzymes produced by bacteria that modify the structure of a drug, making it inactive or ineffective. These enzymes can chemically alter the drug or completely break it down.

Bacteria change the shape of the target that the drug is trying to bind to, decreasing the drug's effectiveness. This occurs through mutations that affect the drug's binding site on the target.

A type of drug resistance that involves bacteria expressing modified versions of their normal essential proteins. The new protein can still function normally for the bacteria, but is no longer targeted by the drug.

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is less permeable to antibiotics than Gram-positive bacteria. Reduced amount of OprD porin can contribute to increased resistance to carbapenems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Active efflux can also contribute to resistance.

A crucial example of drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria has evolved a modified penicillin-binding protein, PBP2a, making it resistant to many beta-lactams, with the exception of some newer drugs designed specifically for this resistance.

Bacteria have evolved mechanisms that allow them to bypass the normal steps of a biochemical pathway that is targeted by a drug. This allows bacteria to survive without the drug interfering with their metabolism, leading to resistance.

A type of bacterial resistance mechanism where the drug is broken down or inactivated by enzymes. Examples include the hydrolysis of beta-lactams by bacterial beta-lactamases.